Capsule-filling device.



J. H. SULLIVAN.

CAPSULE FILLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 191s.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CU. PHOT0-LITHO., wAsHlNcroN. D. C.

JOHN H. SULLIVAN. OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

CAPSULE-FILLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1%)15.

Application filed November 13, 1913. Serial No. 800,723.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN H. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Capsule-Filling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved de vice intended for use by druggists and others to facilitate the filling with powder of gelatin and like capsules.

The device of my invention belongs to that general class of capsule-filling devices which employ an apertured plate or grid to receive the shells of a plurality of capsules and facilitate the simultaneous filling of the shells by powder poured upon the apertured plate above the open ends of the shells, The main object of my invention is to rovide a simplified and improved capsulefilling device of the general type or character above referred to.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is ca pable of being readily cleaned; and also a device which may be readily adjusted to conform to the number of capsules to be filled at any given time.

lVith these objects in view my invention resides in the novel and improved capsulefilling device, and in the combinations of mechanical parts or elements comprised therein substantially as hereinafter described and more, particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawing, which shows a simple and approved embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device, showing in dotted lines an adjusted position of the powder-guard in which the device is used at less than its full capacity. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates a rectangular box-like frame open at its lower side and having a top wall or plate 6, and four short legs 7 adjacent to its corners. This frame, including the top wall and legs, may conveniently be made as an integral one-piece structure cut and pressed from a suitable blank of sheet or plate metal. In the top wall 6 is formed a rectangular group of circular apertures or holes 8, preferably arranged in longitudinal and transverse rows, as shown, and of a suitable size to fit the body shell of a capsule such as is indicated at 9 in Fig. 3. Crosswise of the two ends of the frame are journaled a pair of rock-shafts 10, each of which has a central depending crank portion 11 and, on either side of the latter, other lateral projections or bends 12. The central crank portions 11 are pivotally connected for simultaneous movement by a link 13; and on one end of one of the rock-shafts 10 is a turning device herein shown as a, knob 14. The knob is preferably provided with a lateral lug 15 adapted to engage a pair of fixed stops 16, and 17 disposed a rigl'it-angle apart on the adjacent side wall of the frame 5.

Resting upon the roclcshafts 10 and their lateral projections 12 and loosely fitting within the side and end walls of the frame.

5 is a removable bottom plate 18 that is preferably formed with a group of shallow pockets or depressions 19 to receive and support the lower ends of the capsule shells in the mannerclearly indicated in Fig. 3.

On the upper side of the top plate 6 is mounted a powder-guard surrounding the group of apertures 8. This guard preferably takes the form shown, and comprises a stationary guard wall :20 secured to the top plate 6 opposite one end of the group of apertures, and a three-sided guard wall 21 that surrounds the other three sides of the group of apertures and slidably engages the ends of the stationary wall 20. The guard member 21 is conveniently confined and guided by a group of guidelugs 22 engag ing the longitudinal sides thereof; these guide-lugs being conveniently struck up from the metal of the top plate 6 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 3.

In the use of the device, assuming that a number of capsules to the full capacity of the device are to be filled, the adjustable guard member 21 occupies the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1. The capsule shells are inserted through the apertures 8, their lower ends resting in the shallow pockets 19 of the bottom plate 18, which latter is in its lowermost position. In this position of the parts the upper onen ends of the capsule shells are substantially flush with the top surface of the top plate 6. The powder to be loaded into the capsules is then poured onto the top plate within the space surrounded by the adjustable guard. Much of the powder falls at once into the capsule shells, and the latter are then completely and evenly filled by manipulating the rest of the powder over the open ends of the shells by a spatula or other suitable tool. When the shells are completely and evenly filled, as indicated in Fig. 3, the knob 14 is turned through a right-angle. This elevates the capsule shells about one-half way through the top plate. The caps of the shells are then applied, and the filled and capped capsules may then be readily removed by hand from the device.

In case a less number of shells than the full capacity of the device are to be filled, the movable guard member 21 is adjusted to the left as shown in Fig. 1 until it, together with the stationary guard member 20, surrounds a number of apertures corresponding with the number of capsules to be filled, and the described operations are then performed.

The device is of simple and economical construction, the bottom plate 18 is readily removable for cleansing purposes through a' slot 23 (Fig. 2) in one end wall of the frame, and the entire device may be readily sterilized without injury to any of the parts when required.

Without limiting myself to the exact structure and arrangement of parts shown, I claim 1. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of a frame having a stationary top plate apertured to receive and hold capsule shells, a pair of rock-shafts journaled crosswise of said frame below said top plate and connected for simultaneous movement, lateral projections on said rock-shafts, a bottom plate to support the lower ends of the capsule shells in said top plate resting loosely on said rock-shafts guided by said frame and adapted to be elevated by the lateral projections of the latter when said shafts are turned, and a turning device on one of said rock-shafts.

2. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of a frame having a stationary top plate apertured to receive and hold capsule shells, a pair of rockshafts journaled crosswise of said frame below said top plate and connected for simultaneous movement, lateral projections on said rock-shafts, a bottom plate to support the lower ends of the capsule shells in said top plate resting on said rock-shafts and adapted to be elevated by the lateral projections of the latter when said shafts are turned, and a turning device on one of said rock-shafts, said bottom plate being loosely mounted within said frame coplel of thin and at its edges having vertical sliding engagement therewith.

3. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of a frame having a stationary top plate apertured to receive and hold capsuleshells, and having vertical guide members depending therefrom at its sides and ends, a pair of rock-shafts journaled crosswise of said frame below said top plate and con nected for simultaneous movement, lateral projections on said rock-shafts, a bottom plate tosupport the lower ends of the capsule shells in said top plate loosely resting on said rock-shafts adapted to be elevated by the lateral projections of the latter when said shafts are turned and adapted to slide vertically within said guide members, and means for turning one of said rock-shafts, one of said frame guide members being cut away above the normal upper limit of movement of said bottom plate to permit removal of the latter.

4. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of a frame having a top plate formed with a group .of apertures to receive and hold capsule shells, a bottom plate within said frame beneath said top plate, means for raising and lowering said bottom plate, and a powder-guard on said top plate, said guard comprising a stationary guard member located opposite one side of said group of apertures and a movable guard member slidably mounted on said top plate around the other sides of said group of apertures and cooperating with said stationary guard member and top plate to form a space for the reception of the powder.

5. In a capsule-filling device, the combination of a frame having a top plate formed with a rectangular group of apertures to receive and hold capsule shells, a bottom plate within said frame beneath said top plate, means for raising and lowering said bottom plate, and a powder-guard on said top plate, said guard comprising a stationary guard member located opposite one side of. said group of apertures, and a threesided movable guard member slidably mounted on said top plate around the other three sides of said group of apertures and having a slidable fit with the ends of said stationary guard member, and forming with the latter and the top plate a space for the reception of the powder.

JOHN H. SULLIVAN.

l Jitnesses J. E. FAGAN, THOS. A. FAGAN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

